The Mabel Street Mob To The Rescue - Preamble

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

Communication between Mad Lord Snapcase, Sir Douglas and myself had been by telegraph, postal service, pigeon, and even on one occasion semaphore, but we had not met in person. Our online communications had been clandestine using a code known to ourselves and the other members of the International Organisation known only as L.A.F.
As our meeting was to take place in the depths of Devon we deemed it prudent to hide the fact by naming the event DevLAM, knowing that this would deflect curiosity from Foreign Agents in another direction and leave us time and space to hatch our plans.

This then is the information I sent to my host The Mad Lord Snapcase at Snapcase Hall and to my fellow guest Sir Douglas D'Emfoure, relating to the game I was to put on.

If this makes no sense, check half way down this post DevLAM    It probably still makes no sense.

PLAYERS BRIEFING

When the dust had finally settled following the Police raid on the Tail Feathers saloon (see previous post)  Lian Su Smith started to consider her future. How had the police known they were there, did she have a traitor in the mob, some one who was looking after their own best interests, an informer, a spy, a dead person when she found out who it was.

Things were getting tougher being a mob boss, there was not as much money coming in from the liquor trade, the Chinese were muscling in on the protection racket and making a big dent in the profits from gambling, and it was only a question of time before they hit her liquor business.

They were an issue, but the more immediate problem was Nicole Boursier, shot in the raid on the roadhouse and taken into custody. Lian was fairly certain that to save her own skin Nicole would rat out the mob. There were only 2 safe solutions, spring her from prison or make sure she never opened her mouth in court.

A prison rescue was going to be difficult, but because of her wounds Nicole had been sent to the local hospital under strong police guard and now she was being transferred to Yuma Prison to await trial. There was a short window of opportunity when the New Mexico authorities would hand her over to the Arizona State Troopers. This would take place in a small town on the border, Agua Fria and Nicole was going to be in the local county sheriffs jail for 1 night only. The Arizona Troopers were collecting the prisoner the following day.

This was damn decent of the authorities because by coincidence the Mabel Street Mob were due to make a delivery of their best bootlegged hooch to Blonde Edna’s Saloon and Brothel that same night in Agua Fria.

Lian whilst of Chinese American parents was an ardent student of American history and she was keen to create her own history. She knew of the Coffeyville bank robbery, when the Daltons tried to out do the James brothers by robbing 2 banks at the same time in broad daylight. Maybe she could do the same. The Daltons had failed spectacularly but Lian knew she was a better man than any of the Daltons or even the James boys.

Agua Fria is a small town but it has a Bank and a Wells Fargo office that holds cash, as well as 2 drinking houses, a Gunsmith and Blacksmith and the local County Sheriffs office and Jail.

This was the briefing for the game. Our aim was to deliver the hooch to Blonde Ednas, break Nicole out of jail, and depending on how daring we want to be – rob either the Bank, the Wells Fargo Office or both.

The Mabel Street Mob – from left to right, background and who was running them in the game.

Amelia Eckhart - a manly sort of a woman, likes fast cars and airplanes, useless in a fist fight but good with a gun. Usually takes the lead driving position. (Vagabond - V)

Barbara Vasseur - a high class French girl, known as the executioner, you can guess her role in the mob. She can shoot the pips out of an apple with that shotgun. Of course there’s not much left of the apple. (Mad Lord Snapcase - MLS)

Dorothy Cadero - she is the book Keeper for the mob, knows her numbers and can shoot and fight with the best of them. Works directly for Ruth Marrot, rumour has it she would like the top job. (V)

Isobelle Deforest - a French girl through and through, not such a good shot but that’s why she likes German SMG’s, they never let you down. (DougEM4 - D)

Lian Su Smith - of Chinese American parents, she leads the mob but not always from the front, she is certainly the brains of the organisation but is aware that there is competition for her place at the top. Of course no one in this mob is going to usurp her position, not while she is alive. (D)

Loretta Salerno - the newest member of the gang and one of the best drivers. She likes to tote a Thompson and not just for show, she is a deadly shot, not been long in the States, originally from Southern Italy, no one seems quite sure where. (D)

Nicole Boursier - the 2nd in command and the front woman for the gang. She was shot in the raid on the Tail Feathers Roadhouse and arrested. Maybe she does not feel too kindly to Loretta and Patsie who left her to face a long stretch in prison. (V)

Patsie Jones - from Brooklyn – mad as the hat she wears, the meanest of the bunch and twice as nasty. (MLS)

Ruth Marrot - a shadowy figure, she runs the finance side of the operation, a deadly shot with her colt automatic. (MLS)

 

This is our transport, 2 pick up trucks able to carry 2/3 people and in the back is the Hooch, plus a fast sedan able to carry 4/5 people. We need to decide who will be in which vehicle, who will drive them, the seating arrangement and what order they will proceed down the road.

Our convoy starts on the far side of the board driving down the road towards the town. I had taken two Subbuteo cloths to Snapcase Hall to play the game on but when I saw the Mad Lords mats and his brilliant motor launch I changed the game to incorporate a river get away, rather than driving off the board in the cars as originally intended.
I do find the pitch markings on the Subbuteo pitches a bit of a distraction, so was quite pleased to have some decent mats.

In the town as we drive in from the left, the 1st building on the far side of the road is R Tilney and Son a gunsmiths run by Mike Daniels, a bit of a drunk, then the Arizona Bank run by John and James Watson, then the Sheriffs office and Jail manned by an unknown number of policemen and the last building is the Wells Fargo office and Bank managed by Jack Handsome. Off the main street and behind the Wells Fargo office is the Blacksmiths, our information indicates it is vacant at the moment.

 

On the opposite side of the road from the right as we drive in the 1st buildings are a couple of vacant sheds, then the Tail Feather Saloon owned by an odd couple Major Henry Maddaford an Englishman and Mary Hoogenveen from Holland and the last building on the ground floor is the Westmoorland Grocery Store and upstairs around the back is Blonde Ednas Saloon and Brothel, we need to make our delivery round the back of this building. Both businesses are run by an old couple Granny and Pops, they will help off load the hooch but will not get involved in any of our other schemes.

The towns inhabitants will probably defend their businesses from our attacks and may help defend other businesses, but then again may just hide and keep out of the way.


You can see from this brief, I had no idea what was going to happen and had allowed room for a number of improvisations including a Chinese Tong, who never actually turned up, as well as betrayal or assassinations by up to 3 of the gang. We played the game cooperatively and in the end I decided not to sow discord between us so dropped the betrayal and assassinations, although I think that would have been fun.

As almost all of my games are solo affairs I wing a lot of the stuff, making up rules to suit the occasion and I wasn't sure how that was going to go down with seasoned wargames which these two gentlemen purported to be.

To that end I decided I had better have something prepared and so this is what I came up with, you don't need to read it because basically it's boring, but it pads out this post so that I can use the next one which is my 50th post, for the game report.

As I am a grumpy old bugger I shall not be having cake and candles as the headline picture, there will not be a big 50th POST heading, I do not want any cards or other acknowledgements, although money would be acceptable, postal orders, cheques or best would be cash in used notes.

Background Notes and Encounters for - JAIL BREAK

Mabel Street Mob - Arrive in the Yellow and the Red Pickup 2/3 occupants with the hooch plus the cream sedan with 4/5 occupants. 9 Barrels of hooch per Pickup. Time 2:00am 1 turn per 1/2 hour.

Sedans and pick ups move 18” on the road and 9” off road. Trucks 12” and 6”

If off road roll 2 dice on a score of doubles they become bogged down for 1 move, if on next move they roll another double they are stuck and cannot be moved without a truck, trucks if bogged down can not be moved.

Time to Unload Hooch Rob Bank etc. Active turns.

Hooch 1 person per barrel per turn. Pops and Granny will help.

Rob Bank = 1/2D6 +2 turns

Rob Wells Fargo = 1/2D6 +1

Transfer Prisoner from Jail to van 1DAv

Encounters on the road, use 1 marker for each of the first 5 road sections going into town and the same for the last 5 going out. Reveal as normal. For each encounter take a card from a shuffled 1 suit deck.

Ace = Police Road Block -1D6 1,2,3 = 2 police and 1 car, 4,5 = 4 Police and 2 cars. 6 = 4 State Troopers and 1 van. Police aim is to stop and search for liquor.

King = Rival Gang Road Block -1D6+2 members of the White Hyacinth Tong – there are 18 figures, dice to see who is in the ambush. Gangs aim is to kill Mob and take liquor.

Queen = Young Boy runs across the road.

Jack = Dog runs across the road.

10 = Pheasant runs across the road.

9 = 1,2,or 3 one 4,5,or 6 two Asylum inmates run across the road.

8 = Puncture 1,2,3 = 2 active turns to repair, 4,5,6 = 3 active turns to repair.

7-2 = Nothing

Queen, Jack, 10, 9 = 1D6 encounter runs 1,2 run left to right, 3,4 right to left, 5,6 stop in the middle of the road. If Inmates stop in road they will attack the mobs cars.

Take reaction test for obstacle in the road. If hit encounter, then driver and encounter roll 1D6 +Rep or 3 for encounter, if driver gets higher – target rolls 1,2 ok 3,4 OOF 5,6 dead. There were a series of reaction tests for various eventualities additional to the normal ones in the rules.

Awareness in the Jail. There is 1 sentry and any other guards are asleep. They may wake if there is shooting out of town. Use awareness of Andy Donovan even if he is not there until it is determined who is in the jail.

When Mobsters enter Jail if the Police are alert then they have guns in hand and take an insight test as normal. If Police not alert they are taken by surprise. Check Taken by surprise test.

How many are there.

Police Guards 1D6 1= 2, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5,6 = 5 only roll for no of police when mob enters Jail.

State Troopers 1D6 1,2 = 2 in 1 van, 3 = 3(2 in 1 van 1 in a truck) 4 = 4(2 in 1 van 2 in 1 truck), 5 = 5(2 in 1 van 3 in 1 truck), 6 = 5(2 in 1 van 2 in 1 truck 1 in 1 truck) Bring 3 vehicles onto table and roll when they reach the jail or dismount, removing any surplus vehicles.

In each building the occupants are asleep until wakened by a noise or 8:00 oclock i.e. turn 12.

Arizona State Troopers arrive on the board roll 2D6 on turn 7 need 12, turn 8 - 11, Turn 9 -10, turn 10 – 9, turn 11 – 8, turn 12 – 7, turn 13 – 6, turn 14 – 5, turn 15 – 4, turn 16 – 3.

Locations - Bank – James and John Watson, Wells Fargo – Jack Handsome, Saloon – Major Maddaford and Mary Hoogenveen, Blonde Ednas and Store – Pops and Granny, Gunsmith – Mike Daniels.



This is the sort of thing I put together for many of my games and most this guff I proceeded to forget or ignore but I think it impressed the hell out of my fellow gamers ;) :) :) Maybe.

The White Hyacinth Tong



Lian Su Smith had been concerned about the influence of the Chinese Tongs interfering with her organisations operations and she had commissioned a P.I. to gather some information on them so she could see what she was up against. The Tong had only been in the USA for a short time and appear to have come from the back of beyond, Lian had been gathering information on them for a while to see what sort of competition they would be.

This is the report and photographs she had from her agent in Urumqi, where the hell was Urumqi, not Chicago – she knew that for a fact.

The inscrutable Yu Lon Chi was the head man of the White Hyacinth Tong who had been based in Ürümqi - capital of Xinjiang Province in North West China, pictured here in the Tianshan Mountains 1926.

Urumqi was ruled by the warlord Yang Zengxin from 1911 to 1928, it was a wild and dangerous place. It grew to prominence due to its position on the Silk Road and every bandit, con man, bully boy, and lowlife was attracted by its easy money and fast living.

The White Hyacinth Tong were the top of the pile, they say scum rises. They were bad men and none badder than Yu, he ran protection and prostitution in the downtown area, and also ran the cities most influential bank in the uptown area, he had fingers in many pies.

The Tong could easily be recognised by the White Hyacinth embroidered on their clothing. Recognised and then avoided - unless they came up behind you, in which case you were normally washed up on the banks of the Urumqi River or left to rot in some remote corner of the Tianshan Mountains.

This is a photograph of Chang - bodyguard and general enforcer to the inscrutable Yu Lon Chi taken here in the Tianshan Mountains 1926.

Changs mother died of typhus when he was 6 months old and his father of an equally deadly virus, an unpaid gambling debt to the Rickshaw Drivers Union who ran gambling and racetracks on the north side of town. Rickshaw racing was the hottest sport in Xinjiang Province in the 1920’s.

Chang wandered the streets stealing and fighting until he was spotted by Yu Lon Chi one day when he had just beaten a boy twice his age in a fist fight for a stale loaf of bread.
Chi took him in, fed and clothed him and now Chang reveres Chi as the father figure he never really knew.
Everyone knows that to get to Chi, you have to go through Chang, and no one goes through Chang.

The deadly but beautiful Mai Ling the second most powerful person in the White Hyacinth Tong, pictured here in the Tianshan Mountains 1926.
The triumvirate of Yu Lon Chi, Chang and Mai Ling maintain a grip of iron on the White Hyacinth Tong and through the Tong a stranglehold on all the vice and crime in Xinjiang Province, North West China.
The silk road may no longer carry silk but there are darker goods traded along the road in the 1920’s and the White Hyacinth is in the trade up to their necks, with Mai Ling masterminding most of it.

No one knows for sure where Mai Ling came from – she drifted into town and naturally gravitated to the centre of power, rising quickly to the top, leaving a trail of broken men behind her.

If these were the sort of people that had migrated to the US of A and Lian was up against them, then tough decisions were going to have to be made, bones were going to have to be broken and some would die. She was not going to have some backwoods Chinese Tong break into her markets, even if they did wear fancy clothes.

The White Hyacinth Tong never saw the light of day in this game, but those with a keen memory, may have seen them get on the plane with Becky in her last adventure, where I'm sure they will play some part in the future, so I thought I would get that out of the way now.

Bit of a ramble I'm afraid - but if you're still here - thanks for reading and your thoughts and comments usually cheer me up.
Cheers

The Mabel Street Mob - The Police Raid on the Tailfeathers Roadhouse.

Captain Andy Donovan spoke with quiet authority and when he said “listen up men” they listened. “The Mabel Street Mob are known to be holed up at the old roadhouse outside of town on the Normanton road. You know the place, the old Tailfeathers Saloon and Gambling Den”.

We are fairly sure, they are all there –

Loretta Salerno, the newest member of the gang and the driver. She likes to tote a Thompson and not just for show, she is a deadly shot, not been long in the States, originally from Southern Italy, no one seems quite sure where.

Ruth Marrot – a shadowy figure, she runs the finance side of the operation, looks like she had an accident with an acid bath, another deadly shot with her colt automatic.

Nicole Boursier, the 2nd in command and the front woman for the gang. Comes from Louisiana way, we think she has French connections with the Cosa Nostra in Marseilles.

Barbara Vasseur, another high class French girl, known as the executioner, you can guess her role in the mob. She can shoot the pips out of an apple with that shotgun. Of course there’s not much left of the apple.

Patsie Jones from Brooklyn – mad as the hat she wears, the meanest of the bunch and twice as nasty.

We think the mastermind behind the gang is also going to be there but we're not sure what she looks like -

Lian Su Smith, Chinese American and a bit of a looker by all accounts. Generally avoids the limelight but cunning as a fox and much more dangerous. There are no known photographs and live witnesses generally turn out not to be.

“OK Don’t forget” he said “These girls are seriously dangerous and we need to go in fast and shoot first. I’ll take care of the Attorney’s Office, don’t forget the storyline, you gave them fair warning and they fired on us first, we only responded in self defence. If we do it by the book we will be coming back in body bags, OK you all got that”. There were some very nervous nods of assent, maybe the body bag comment, maybe the shoot first.

The Police Squad -

Walter Ellery is good with his weapon’s of choice - a baton and a sticky bun, not so useful against these girls unless he can get up close, and if he does he’s not going to hit some pretty little girl – is he? Actually – yes, he’s meaner and tougher than a doughnut eating cop should be.

Petra Stanislav – the top of her year at the Police Academy, she is the rookie in the squad, but more capable than most cops, unfortunately renowned for her clumsiness, everyone leaves the room when she loads her pistol.

Big Jim Floyd – strong as a horse but as clumsy as Stanislav. This was to be a problem.

Norman “Action Man” Grumach, smart as a whip but not as good with firearms as he thinks he is.

Juanita Aguila, another fine cop but maybe better at operational organisation rather than actually in the operation.

Finally Captain Andy Donovan – a veteran of the streets of Chicago, he's led many squads on raids such as this, but he feels a little uneasy with the quality of the officers under his command for this sort of raid. He was looking forward to retiring in one piece, and this had been on his mind more than a little recently, especially since the fiasco with the moonshine Here  and even more especially since coming to this hick town, full of bootleggers and dopeheads.


The Mabel Street Mob are somewhere on the table decided by dice, so Captain Andy’s plan was simple, he was entering from the road on the left. Expecting most of the mob to be in the saloon he sent the car with Walter driving and Petra as shotgun to go fast past the roadhouse and block the road out and then the main force in the van with Norman driving would pull up outside. Everyone would hop out and dive into the roadhouse and arrest or more probably shoot anyone in there. They would then mop up the rest of the gang wherever they happened to be.

If they acted fast they should catch the gang napping and have numbers on their side initially.

Dispositions of the Mob were decided on a dice roll. 1 dice for each of the mob - 1, 2 or 3 they are in the road house on a 4 they are in the big cabin, 5 in the small one, 6 somewhere on the board in a random place.

A close up of the small cabin. (I must fit a door), but I always think that, and still haven't got round to it.

The police car drives past the Saloon, but the van with most of the cops in it is not immediately behind, as it should have been, it was slowed by a missed activation.

Stanislav jumps out of the car and takes cover as she was taught in the Academy, Walter is slower and is still in the drivers seat - too many donuts will do that. The Police van finally arrives and screeches to a halt. The noise causes the mobsters to react, Patsie Jones comes out of the saloon to see what is happening. Sees the police and jumps back shouting “It’s the cops” She's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Inside the roadhouse Patsie, Loretta and Nicole are alert and covering the windows and doors. They decide to stay put and are prepared to have a shootout with the cops. Not too many brain cells in the building but Nicole should have known better. (Bad dice roll)

In the small cabin Ruth the Bookkeeper is alert and checks the door, then the window to see what is happening and she doesn’t see Petra crouched behind the police car, but does decides she is in a good position to sneak away with the books if she has to, so remains in the cabin.

In the big cabin Barbara checks the door worried by the screeching tyres outside, but the Boss of the outfit - Lian is fast asleep on the bed.

Walter finally gets out and takes cover behind the car. The road block is in place. Its looking good so far, although the van was a move behind the car due to a missed activation everyone is in place and the mob haven't decided to run yet.

Disaster - No one has emerged from the truck, it turns out Big clumsy Jim Floyd, tripped and somehow blocked the doors. (They didn’t activate for 2 moves) Lian wakes like a snake and she and Barbara are out of the big cabin making for the brown truck to get away (self preservation like the force is strong within them). They realised the raid was concentrated on the roadhouse and they passed a brains test but failed a guts test so decided to do a runner and escape, leaving the rest of the gang to take the heat.

The police finally get out of the truck but all the girls are active and ready. Big Jim Floyd sees Lian and Barbara and shouts stop we are the law, Captain Donovan gives him a sideways glance, what did I tell you he thinks as the girls open fire. Barbara’s 1st shot with the shotgun takes Jims hat off but does small damage, no brains in there to damage, but her other shot takes down Juanita. Lian firing just after Barbara only has Jim as a target and she hits him with two shots, he goes down OOF.

Mad Patsie cracks open the saloon door and fires at Officer Norman Grumach and takes him out with 2 shots to the chest. Double 6’s will do it every time. He falls to the floor before he can get a shot off.

Captain Donovan has not survived in the Police Force for so long by being a mug and he sees officers down all around and runs for cover in the field to the left. He knows the operation is a bust.
Three cops down around the van and Big Andy is in the field on the far side of the board.
Hopefully you can still see Officers Walter Ellery and Petra Stanislav in cover behind the police car watching the towns finest shed blood in front of them.

From the back window of the saloon Nicole sees Officer Ellery with his bag of doughnuts and fires, missing and he ducks down behind the car, rookie Stanislav sees the gun flash and gets off 2 shots, one hits the window frame but the other hits Nicole who falls to the floor bleeding badly.

From the small cabin Ruth the Bookkeeper sees Stanislav fire into the Saloon and returns that fire, missing but causing Stanislav to duck back into the cover of the car.

An eerie silence ensued. Andy Donovan is crouched down behind the fence in the field, looking back at his downed command, there’s going to be a lot of paperwork to fill in.

Barbara in the cabbage patch is re-loading her shotgun, Lian has reached the brown truck but can’t get in, the door is stuck, Nicole is groaning in the Saloon, but otherwise it’s quiet.

Walter and Petra, get good guts rolls and pop up from behind the Police car, there is no movement in the Saloon window where Nichole was but they spot Ruth the Book Keeper in the cabin, they both snapfire, Walter shades Petra to the shot but his bullets go into the log walls. Officer Petra Stanislav got top marks on the shooting range but this is reality, paper targets don’t shoot back and she misses as well, again hitting the log walls. Ruth holds her nerve and snapfires back at Walter hitting him once and he drops to the ground, Petra, fires back but ruffled by the moans of her partner her shots miss again and she runs out of ammo. Ruth fires back and hits Petra, but it is only a flesh wound, she drops back behind the car to stop the bleeding.

Another pause as everyone assesses the situation.

Patsie and Loretta burst out of the saloon making for the brown van and escape. Lian finally gets the door of the van open, Barabara is ready to jump in, Andy Donovan recovers his nerve and fires his shotgun but is out of range and misses.

Officer Stanislav recovers from her flesh wound and pops back up, but Ruth the Bookkeeper is covering the area and fires, missing but Stanislav ducks back again.

Ruth leaves the shelter of the log cabin and climbs in to the van, Andy Donovan runs towards the van as it speeds off and does not get in another shot.

Headlines in the Globe Newspaper the following day.

Four Officers wounded, in an abortive raid on an isolated Roadhouse Tavern known as the Tailfeathers Saloon. The raid lead by Captain Andrew Donovan - recently arrived from the Chicago Police Force was a complete fiasco. Witnesses said that the police van pulled up but no one got out for what seemed like an eternity. This gave the gang plenty of time to react to the raid and the officers were gunned down mercilessly as they emerged from the van.

Questions are being asked at the highest level why such a small and ill prepared squad should take on the notorious Mabel Street Mob unaided.

Captain Donovan could well be retiring earlier than he thought. All the Mabel Street gang got away except Nicole Boursier, who is badly wounded and may not recover, but if she does she may turn States evidence or need busting out of jail or both.
This game was the opening chapter for my game at DevLAM 17, which I hope to post next, although I've been flying aeroplanes yesterday and want to write that up for the Wings of War forum where I am taking part in the OTT (Over The trenches) campaign series of games and I'm nearly 2 months behind on that.

Here's another photo I liked but didn't use in the writeup, the Thompson toting Loretta on the porch of the Roadhouse.

If you are still here – Thanks for reading and take care out there.

Palaeo Diet – The Interlopers and DevLAM the Meeting

The year was growing older and the climate was getting colder so the Shell Clan were making their annual journey south to follow the sun, a ritual we still follow today. I guess if they had learned to sew, they could have made a better fist of clothing themselves to keep warm and saved on the leg miles.

The previous two stories showing the exploits of the Shell Clan are Here Game 1 and Here Game 2

It was late in the day and they were searching for somewhere safe to stay the night, when they came upon another group of upright bipeds, similar to themselves, but also quite different.

In game terms I treated the pygmies as pack predators so that the A.I. system would work.

The Shell Clan has adopted what was becoming their usual formation when facing danger, the females with the slings on the outside of the line and the men with the brawn and better close quarters weapons in the centre. The one thing they seem to have learned from the 1st encounter with the Grazers is to stick together when faced with danger.

Luana fails an activation but the Pygmies remain calm, watching to see what these strangely coloured people will do. She lopes forward and this also elicits no aggressive response. She then did what most peoples do when faced with an unknown race or culture. She tried to kill it.

Her sling shot was deadly accurate and she caused 2 wounds on Agume, he promptly dropped down dead.

The little guys were obviously not expecting this and two of them took to their heels and ran away. One is made of sterner stuff and moves forward to attack Luana.

Zanga the brave has moved close to Luana but could not make contact and then when Ayah makes her move towards him he responds by running away to join the rest of his tribe. Tohana and Kee’Ak move up along side the females.

A quick shot showing the poor Pygmies all in flight from these aggressive incomers.

The Pygmies have reacted to the hunters with Zanga going back onto the attack and you can see here he has been shot dead, again by Luana. To do this she rolls a 6 to hit and then a further 5 to hit again, causing 2 wounds which is a kill. Twice in 2 turns she has rolled a 6 followed by a 5, what a woman.

Tohana now runs forward and in a ferocious fight bashes the little fellows brains out with that dam big axe of his. He didn’t have it all his own way and took a blow to the head wounding him sorely.

The last man standing decides to leave before something nasty happens to him. Maybe he has friends nearby?

Another successful encounter for the Shell Clan.

Ayah’s leg has now healed and she can move normally.

Tohana suffered a blow to the head this leaves him slightly deaf and he ceases to be alert.

Kee’Ak no change and is still Alert.

Luana with her accurate shooting gains a trait and with a good die roll becomes a Hunter.

They also gain 6 bulk of food. Although I’m not too sure of the ethics of this decision on my part, but hey ho - it's only a game ;-)

DevLAM

You may have noticed the post on my Blog list from The Mad Lord Snapcase entitled Much-Piddling Naval Visitors and relating to Devlam 18.

Well - a year ago I was enjoying the late summer down in the south of France, staying with the Rothschild’s in their villa on Cap Ferrat when I received this telegram.

What ho Vagabond, what are you doing on the Bonfire night weekend, burning that bounder Fawkes or are you still enjoying the gaming tables on the Cote D’Azure STOP I am thinking of having a couple of chums around to the old pile and conducting a refined weekend of Wargaming STOP What do you think STOP The old Gal, Lady Snapcase is visiting relatives and we will have the place to ourselves STOP Sir Douglas is coming with something called Luke Warm Grave, doesn’t have a snowy table he says, well which of us do at this time of year STOP I shall be doing Pulp Alley, Gothic Horror don’t you know STOP You can bring that Mabel Street Mob lot down if they can get exit visas from the States STOP Reply soonest STOP

When I told the Rothschild’s that I would be leaving on the next boat train to London and then driving down to deepest darkest Devon the following day they were bitterly disappointed, as you would expect but they quite understood that the chance to wargame in the sanctity of Snapcase Hall was an offer no insane sane man would refuse.

The weekend went well, Lord Snapcase was a most attentive host and even had the local Constable stop the traffic in the main street outside the Hall, just so I could more easily get my Austin 7 between the gate pillars and up the long tree lined drive, to park in the stable yard round the back of the main house.

Sir Douglas and I arrived promptly at the designated time, his racing green Bentley cut quite a dash in the village, it’s a shame the aged braking system couldn't cope with the nasty turn by the duck pond, but we had him out of there in two shakes of a lambs tail. What’s a bit of water to a man on his calibre.

We had a quick tour of the ancestral home, the oldest, central section 1650’s I believe and both the east and west wings, it only took a couple of hours, obviously avoiding the servants quarters, kitchens and other less interesting rooms.

Of note was the 2nd Library, the one with all the historical and military books, 1st editions most of them, smaller than the main Library but indubitably more interesting.

The gun room collection has more Brown Bess muskets than the Royal Armouries, and the best selection of 17C German Sporting guns I have ever seen, including the Baron Munchausen’s collection in Bavaria. There were antique firearms through to light machine guns from the 2nd WW, as well as a nice collection of American revolvers and Carbines from the 19C. The shooting range took up the length of the 2nd floor of the West wing, probably only 100yds long but impressive all the same.

The heavy machine guns and artillery were apparently in storage a few miles away on the estate and we did not have the time to visit, mores the pity.

The painting and modelling room was a picture of efficiency and industry, indeed the three fellows and one young gal were painting a hard and as fast as they could, quality control was excellent although his Lordship gave them quite a wigging over the eyes, they looked good to me but to a perfectionist like Snappy they were just not up to snuff. Figures were going on to a conveyer belt down to the far end of the room where the bases were attended to, then straight onto the racks in the purpose built computer controlled storage facility which took up most of one floor in the East Wing.

This man does not have a lead mountain, it’s more like the Himalayas.

The games were played out in the main Dining Room of Snapcase Hall, where there was more space than in the Games Room or the rather cramped 30’ x 30’ Billiard Room. The dining table probably seats 40 but I could never count all the chairs, there was so much else going on. Royalty has eaten there, although I believe they were aghast at the size of the Bill the 3rd Lord presented them with and I don't believe they ever returned.

Old Scrotum - Snappy’s aged but wrinkly retainer plied us with food and alcohol at regular intervals during the two and a half days we were ensconced there, games started promptly at when ever we could get ourselves up and went on to the early hours of the morning.

There are some scurrilous rumours about the amount of alcohol drunk and a photograph appeared in the local paper purporting to show one nights consumption, if I can get a copy I will post it here so you can see for yourselves how they exaggerated. No three men could possibly drink that amount, although to be fair the under maid did reveal to me that the staff had to commandeer the local undertaker and his hearse to keep up with the flow of bottles from the room.

On Saturday night the uniformed Chauffeur drove us down to the local hostelry in the lime green Roller, the local peasantry doffed their caps as we drove by. The whole Restaurant had been taken over by Lord Snapcase and all the riff raff, who were standing outside in the pouring rain, could do was gaze longingly through the window at their local Lord and Master. The menu had been prepared especially for us, the suckling pig was excellent, although the quails eggs I thought were a little over done, but all in all, a splendid meal, Missis Miggins deserves her 3 stars.

As we were leaving there was some discussion about Manorial rights with the local peasants. Apparently it is still customary in this part of Devon that prior to their wedding night … virgins…. marriage… Lord of the Manor…. It all got a bit complicated but Lord Snapcase seemed happy with the way the discussions went.

Well the reason for all this reminiscing is that I have been invited down to deepest darkest Devon again this coming November. An invitation I am a little surprised at, he obviously hasn't missed the family silver yet, nor the lime green Rolls Royce, although there were a lot of cars in the stable block 3 or 4 Rollers, a couple of Bentley's and too many of those fancy foreign cars to shake a big stick at, so I've probably got away with it.

I want to post up some of the games we played last year before this coming crop make me forget them, or maybe the alcohol will do that, there were some reports circulated at the time but they were written by unreliable sources and I believe I should make sure that the truthful accounts are reported here, sooner rather than later.

Well if you are still here - thanks for reading and your thoughts and comments "make my day"

"Punk" :)

Cheers

A Becky Adventure - Escape in to Danger!

Rebecca Salerno is missing. After the excitement on the drive to the airport every thing had gone smoothly except that one of the girls Rebecca Salerno, had not arrived at Heathrow, phone calls were unanswered and rather than miss the plane they had sent a telegram to her giving details of the hotel they would stay at in Calcutta and after that in Changoon. All they could hope was that she was Ok and would catch up later. (She is being repainted as we speak, but there might be other more sinister reasons for her none arrival)

They had a short stop over in Calcutta and hired a couple of cars to drive to the coast to catch the first of two sea planes, this was none stop to Changoon, a commercial flight and they weren’t expecting any problems, after all – who knew they were there.

The previous chapter is Here and that contains all the links to the rest of the story, 6 chapters all told, it will become a novel before I'm done. ;)

Text relates to the photo above it, I know everyone else is out of step with me, it just makes everyone else wrong:) :).

The Ferry dock to transport passengers to the Seaplane, it’s a rough and ready place, no Starbucks, Costco or MacDonalds either.

The girls have to drive down the road, straight to the dock, check through customs, board ferry boats then motor out to the seaplane and take off.

Simple.

The seaplane uses this rather dilapidated dock for its commercial flights, after all they are on a very tight budget and the passengers going to Changoong are not usually the fussy kind.

Looks like quite a crowd to get on the plane. I hope they can all make it, sometimes the flight is overbooked.

Over by passport control the Police woman in the red beret and the sinister looking chap by her side don’t look like the rest of the passengers, maybe officials, could be trouble.
I noticed that all the passengers are on the other side of the road from them, obviously they don’t want to be too close to these two.

Obviously there is an oriental contingent flying east but there’s nothing unusual in that.

Is there?

You can see some of the other passengers, could that be Professor Augustus Dingle with his trademark umbrella and pigskin briefcase and by his side Miss Sally Brun his assistant. Rumour has it that she had changed her name from Brunn to Brown and now to a less controversial Brun, neither German nor British!!

A better photo reveals that it is actually them, last heard of in the Soviet city of Archangel, but that’s another and very long story. One you wont hear from Dingle and Brun.

Put the damn map away hisses Arne Poulsen, do you want every one to know why we are here!!!! Josef Rasmussen just shrugs his shoulders and gives a sideways glance to Virginia Lacy as if to say the man’s mad and completely paranoid, but he pays the wages so what else can we do with such a buffoon.

She gives him a secret smile in return, but her eyes remain cold, frosty and vaguely frightening.

A better shot of the woman in the red beret, behind her is someone who looks like Col Nicolai Grigoriev from the KGB in his hallmark maroon coat and fur hat. In India – the man sure stands out, but by her side is Meinhard Wencke, a far more dangerous person than the volatile Colonel.

The Customs compound is surrounded by high concrete walls and the Customs Chief is deciding if coiled barb wire along the top would be out of place. He likes to sleep safe in his bed at night, well who doesn’t.

No one is quite sure what this building is, - well those who know will not tell, either they work there and know what’s good for them or they are unnaturally quiet, and very still and don’t talk much, or at all.

Turn 1 – The girls arrive driving down the road and the 2 activation dice are doubles, after 6 doubles the really bad guys will appear.

Turn 2 – The 2 cars park up and the girls get out, another double thrown. This is not looking so good for them.

Sorry – This has nothing to do with the story but I was just so pleased with how the dry brush work turned out on this shed that I had to show the photo. :)

Turn 3 – The girls make their way towards the custom, office (on the left) but are immediately accosted by Meinhard Wencke, a German national with strong contacts in the military intelligence community. He usually plays a lone game, sometimes connected to others but is not a very savoury character. He has paid out some bribe money and been ‘given’ Corporal Sarah Brown from the local military police (MP) to help him appear to be in an official capacity.

I need to see your papers he demands harshly, Cpl Brown MP looks a bit taken aback, her orders are to accompany Wencke and help where she can but is not aware he has any official capacity. Becky seeing the MP is unsure what is going on, “Are you the customs” she asks.

Turn 4 – “No I am” says Primo Agosti who appears from out of the Customs Office to see what all the noise is about.

You may be thinking “what is an Italian in a Spanish Civil War uniform doing in India running a Customs post, this must be a mistake", but as usual you would be wrong.

Primo came here from Italy a few years ago he was able to buy cheap Spanish uniforms to kit out his men and just wants a quiet life, well of course with a little wine, women and song but he is Italian after all and needs some of the good things in life. He’s in charge here, this is his station and he is not happy with anyone else interfering in his domain.

Turn 5 – Becky tells Primo that she is here to catch the plane and he asks for her papers. With a winning smile and a toss of her long blonde hair she hands them over, he almost simpers with delight, well that’s one customs officer on her side, surprisingly Becky has a high Charisma level and easily charmed Primo.

He starts to examine the papers.

Becky looks at Wencke who seems to be having second thoughts about all this. (He failed to activate)

Turn 6 – Wencke still inactive and just watches Primo examine the papers.

Turn 7 – These are all in order you may board the flight.

“You must examine her luggage” shouts Wencke, he finally activated. Primo looks at Cpl Brown the MP and decides that he had better go through the full procedure as there is obviously some official backing for this rude man.

Turn 8 – The girls baggage – 2 cases and 3 bags needs to be searched, this is going to take some time. (5 turns actually) Primo’s men start to search.

Turn 9 – The baggage search continues and Thorvald the ferry boat’s Captain goes to fetch Gasper the porter. He’s seen it all before and knows what happens next.

Turn 10 – What are these, - our guns is the reply and here are the papers and permits for them. Primo examines them and approves.

Turn 11 – What are these, - our underwear is the reply. Primo examines them and approves.

Turn 12 – This baggage is approved Primo announces loudly.

Thank goodness for that mutter the rest of the passengers and everyone starts to move towards the boats. Dice roll to see how long to load everyone and all the baggage, humm too long. Becky doesn’t know it but I do and trouble is on its way.

Herr Wencke decides he must act decisively but Cpl Brown argues with him and surprisingly so does Col Nicolai, but the guns we must stop them taking the guns, says Wencke. Primo starts shouting at him that he has inspected all the paper work and he is satisfied everything is in order. The row continues for a few periods, before Primo goes back into his office slamming the door.

A few turns later some of the passengers are loaded onto 2 ferries (sorry about the state of them, they’re on the ‘to do’ list) they start to set off for the seaplane. Beckie’s luggage is almost loaded onto the other.

When ….

Turn 18 – A black car appears, coming down the road, coming fast.

My mistake two black cars.

Turn 19 – Last case going on to the boat. Wencke is shouting and pushing Becky around, he can see the car coming and knows what it means. Good news for him but bad for the girls, if he can hold things up for a couple of minutes the tide will turn in his favour.

The first boats are leaving the dock.

Turn 20 - The cars getting closer but there’s only Becky and Roxanne to get on the ferry, it’s going to be tight.

Lights shinning and flying down to the dock the black cars are getting still closer. Are you getting excited, humm, didn’t think so.

The other boat’s are well on their way. Just the final one to cast off.

All aboard. Henke is shouting for them to wait. - Fat chance.

The boat has cast off and starts to make its way to the seaplane just as the black cars screech to a halt and some very mean looking men in uniform jump out.

Where the hell have you been shouts Wenke. They’re getting away, shoot them.

The Customs men all come out of their office to see what the hell is going on and there is another almighty row going on between Wencke and Primo.

There’s something of a Mexican standoff.

The guys in grey uniforms start to make their way to the dock but it is too late. Primo is having a fit and there is no way these men are going to get him to back down and recall the boat or plane.

Wenke watches impotently as the boats motor out to the seaplane.

Final shot of the boats on the water, Becky and the girls just made it, I couldn’t believe how tight it all turned out, but they are away off to South East Asia and who knows what lies ahead of them.

Certainly not me, I have a rough idea of them landing in a very shady town full of drunks, gangsters, con men and other ner do wells, where they have to try and find a guide to take them up country – then the journey via a jungle river to the Monastery where the jade Buddha was stolen, meeting wild animals, wild natives, rapids and river crossings on the way.

The journey from the Monastery to some cave complex, I have the mouth of the cave but nothing else, on the way I envisage a rope bridge, pygmies in front and other bad guys behind. The final scene in the cave complex like something out of the opening scene in the 1st Indiana Jones Movie, traps, guards, maybe even snakes.

Well that was the Directors idea, the Producer’s couldn’t raise the finance, the Set Designer is drunk, the Writer is on strike for a better pay deal (well getting paid would be good) The Musical Director has joined Primo’s Customs men for the wine women and song in the reverse order and the actors …. well the actors!

Of course they could just go to the pub and forget it all because I have nothing presentable for the rest of the story. We’re just going to have to wing it a little.

Final, final shot of a dispirited Wenke and his associate the Colonel.

These were a couple of shots that I quite liked but didn’t make it into the story, well I said the Script Writer didn’t get paid so what more can you ask for.

Hopefully to be continued ……..

I've not done this before because it seems so pretentious on my part, but it's so long since I had any new guy's sign up to follow my blog that I figure I must be doing something wrong. Mind you I notice that they are remaining incognito with no identifying pictures, and who can blame them for that.
So rather than welcome you to my blog, I will just say hello to Bacon Fat! and Peter L, I just hope you like long winded games reports, usually with some slightly out of focus photos. ;)

Yet again I'm away for a couple of weeks, this retirement has it's advantages, no money but lots of time, I'm hoping the mobile internet works in Wales although no more game posts until I get home again.
No cheering at the back, I can hear you. :)

Well if you're still here - thanks for reading and your thoughts and comments enliven the proceedings immensely, if not for me than for everyone else. :)
Cheers